Voluntary departure for Imam Masood?

With near-certain deportation looming, the imam’s immigration attorney says the Pakistani cleric and his family are ready to talk about leaving the U.S. on their own, rather than be deported.

By Lane Lambert

The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA

By Lane Lambert

Posted May. 23, 2008 at 12:01 AM
Updated May 23, 2008 at 11:11 PM

By Lane Lambert

Posted May. 23, 2008 at 12:01 AM
Updated May 23, 2008 at 11:11 PM

BOSTON

» Social News

With near-certain deportation looming, Imam Muhammad Masood’s immigration attorney says the Pakistani cleric and his family are ready – though reluctantly – to talk about voluntarily leaving the United States rather than fight removal proceedings in federal Immigration Court.

“The imam is trying to explore an orderly voluntary departure,” attorney William Joyce of Duxbury said.

Joyce, a former immigration judge, said the family may consider going to a country other than Pakistan, if they could be admitted.

Until now, Joyce has said the imam and his family might seek asylum, on the grounds that returning to Pakistan would be dangerous.

While Imam Masood awaits sentencing on a criminal visa-fraud conviction, he and his wife and five of their eight children are also facing deportation. The other three children, all teenagers, are American-born and not involved in the case.

The prospect of leaving the U.S. is especially distressing for the imam’s three American children, who were with him Thursday at U.S. District Court in Boston

“I would rather stay here,” said Rubia Masood, 18. “This is my world.”

Rubia is a junior at Sharon High School. She has never visited Pakistan.

She is the first member of the family to be interviewed since her father was picked up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in November 2006. Since then, she said, “every day has been stressful.”